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10 of the best baby playpens 2024
DO YOU NEED A PLAYPEN?
A playpen is an enclosed play area, where your baby can safely play. They should never replace the supervision of a child. But they can give you peace of mind if you have to pop out of the room for a short while or when you are cooking, for example. They shouldn’t be used for long periods though as a child should be able to explore their full environment.
When can you start using a playpen?
They will be most useful when your baby starts crawling, rolling or bum shuffling. You could place them in there before this milestone to get them used to it.
What features should I look out for in playpens?
Wall materials: Playpens usually have either soft, mesh walls or vertical bars like a stair gate.
Floor: Padded flooring will make it more comfortable for your baby to use.
Safety: It’s important there are no gaps for them to get stuck, that they can’t tip over and that there is nothing that can be climbed up. The playpen should meet British Safety Standard EN 12227: 1999 or 2010. Make sure you keep them away from windows and any source of heat like a fire or radiator. And don’t tie anything to the playpen that could pose a strangulation risk.
Foldable for storage: If you’ve got a small home, you might not want the playpen up all the time. In which case, look for ones that fold down for easy storage. If you will be putting it away each day, get one that is also very easy to assemble. For example, many of the mesh ones just pop up.
Door: The mesh playpens often have a zipped door and the panelled ones usually have a door panel. These are useful as they can sometimes be left open for your child to go in or out. They are also good if you have a bad back and don’t want to be lifting the baby in and out.
Accessories: For example, a bag of balls, interactive panels and a hanging toy storage bag.
Portability: A lightweight playpen and a travel bag will make it very portable.
Outside use: If you think you’ll be using it a lot in the garden get one with a weather-resistant floor so it can be used outside and perhaps also a UV canopy.
Multi-functional: Some can also be used as a travel cot, fireguard or room divider.
THE BEST BABY PLAYPENS
This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:
Consumer reviews
Best-seller lists
Recommendations from industry experts
Award-winning products
Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.
The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 14 February 2024.
If you buy through a link, I may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.
1. Venture All Stars DUO Plastic Baby Playpen
Award-winning plastic playpen.
12 panels each measuring 76 x 65cm. Total enclosure area of 24.9 square feet.
Comes with a lockable door, interactive play panel, interconnecting floor pads and a bag of play balls.
To store, take apart the panels and stack.
2. Gupamiga play yard
Colourful plastic playpen.
Fourteen panels measuring 14 x 16 inches each. Total enclosure area of 26 square feet.
Has a rubber base to prevent it from being pushed around.
The door is lockable and the inner side has interactive elements.
To store, dismantle and stack the panels.
3. Venture All Stars Joy Baby playpen
A folding playpen that is great for small spaces.
When open it measures 136 x 136 x 75cm with a floor area of 1.4 square metres.
Soft mesh sides.
The padded nylon canvas floor mat is weather-resistant so it can also be used outdoors.
Fold away door panel for easy access.
Wipe clean materials.
Compact fold and comes with a storage/travel bag.
Also available in a square shape.
4. Hadwin baby playpen
A folding playpen with eight mesh panels.
Measures 170 x 190 x 74cm.
It has a small hanging storage bag for toys.
Easily folds into the included travel/storage bag measuring 100 x 22cm.
Can also be used outdoors.
A smaller 6-panel version is also available.
5. Koo-di Deluxe Foldaway Playpen
This playpen comes in a lovely colour and has mesh sides.
It has a water-resistant base so can also be used outside.
The base is also padded for comfort.
Comes with a travel bag.
Easy to assemble, you just unfold it.
There is a zipped door for easy access.
Can be used from birth until 3 years/15kg/over 89cm tall.
When folded it is freestanding.
Diameter of 118cm. It has a height of 76cm.
6. Hypereden large baby playpen
A good-sized 180 x 150cm rectangular playpen with mesh sides and protective foam edges.
Easily dismantles into a travel bag.
Zipped door for entry and exit.
Corner protection.
The feet have non-slip suction cups.
7. Dreambaby Royale Converta 3 in 1 Playpen
Metal playpen that can also be used as a fireguard and room divider.
Can easily fold away.
Walk-through door that can stay open if necessary.
Extensions are available.
Wall mounts are included for use as a barrier or guard.
The six panels ca be used to create of playpen of various shapes.
The panels are 74cm tall and in total have a width of 380cm.
8. BabyDan Deluxe PlayPen
A metal playpen with a soft, machine washable mattress.
It can also be used as a room divider with a maximum width of 360cm. Wall fittings have to be bought separately.
Five panels, one of which is a gate.
Available in black and white.
9. Hauck Dream'n Play Travel Cot
This popular travel cot can also double up as a playpen.
Measures 128 x 169cm. It is 76cm tall.
Folds into a transport/storage bag.
Comes with a mattress.
10. Safetots wooden play den
A wooden playpen from the child safety company Safetots.
Available in a square, rectangle and pentagon in a variety of sizes.
Extensions are also available.
One panel is a door.
Quick-release fittings mean that panels can easily be added or removed.
Some baby products are useful for longer than others. If you’re in two minds about whether to buy something, it can be worth considering its lifespan. The longer you use it, the better the cost per use and the more it will justify its place in your home. Here are thirteen baby products that are still in active service with my now five-year-old.